Rubin “Hurricane” Carter (born May 6, 1937) fought professionally as a middleweight boxer from 1961 to 1966. In 1966, he was arrested for a triple homicide in the Lafayette Bar and Grill in Paterson, New Jersey. He and another man, John Artis, were tried and convicted twice (1967 and 1976) for the murders, but after the second conviction was overturned in 1985, prosecutors chose not to try the case for a third time. From 1993 to 2005 Carter served as executive director of the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted.

… Selwyn Raab… wrote… “The actual story… exposes an underlying frailty in the criminal-justice system that convicted Mr. Carter not once but twice. The convictions were obtained not by a lone, malevolent investigator but by a network of detectives, prosecutors and judges who countenanced the suppression of evidence and the injection of racial bias into the courtroom.”

The Kent State shootings—also known as the May 4 massacre or, frequently, the Kent State massacre — occurred at Kent State University in the city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970. The guardsmen fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.

Some of the students who were shot had been protesting against the American invasion of Cambodia, which President Richard Nixon announced in a television address on April 30. Other students who were shot had been walking nearby or observing the protest from a distance.

Michael Willetts, GC (13 August 1943 – 25 May 1971) was one of the first British soldiers to be killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the recipient of a posthumous George Cross for his heroism in saving lives during the Provisional Irish Republican Army bombing which claimed his own.

Willetts was killed in Springfield Road RUC station by the Provisional IRA. A man in his mid-twenties emerged from a car and threw a suitcase containing a blast bomb into the lobby of the station. Willetts thrust two civilians into a corner and stood above them as the 30 lbs of explosives detonated seriously injuring him… Willetts was fatally injured by a chunk of metal from a locker which had struck him in the back of the head. As he was being removed by ambulance, he and the injured officers were jeered by local youths who screamed obscenities at them. Willetts died after two hours on the operating table at Royal Victoria Hospital.

The George Cross was awarded to Sergeant Willett's widow in June and the citation appeared in the London Gazette at the same time.

“The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the George Cross to: 2391067 Sergeant Michael WILLETTS, The Parachute Regiment.”

“Sergeant Michael Willetts was on duty in the inner hall. Hearing the alarm, he sent an N.C.O. up to the first floor to warn those above and hastened himself to the door towards which a Police Officer was thrusting those in the reception hall and office. He held the door open while all passed safely through and then stood in the doorway, shielding those taking cover. In the next moment, the bomb exploded with terrible force.”

“Sergeant Willetts was mortally wounded. His duty did not require him to enter the threatened area, his post was elsewhere.”

You know what RockOnBrother, Though I am an athiest as you know, I do respect religion, and I accept that basic Christian teachings are good teachings, I particularly like the message of Christmas, peace and goodwill to all, I just cannot accept it when people get too serious about it all, telling people how they should live their lives.

Tomorrow - October 26th is the start of Diwali, an important festival for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Budhists, known as the Festival Of Lights, so may I say "Happy Diwali" "Deepavali ki Shubhkamnayein"

Tomorrow night (Wednesday) will see Britains largest Diwali celebrations, and one of the largest outside of India on the streets of Liecester, when people of all faiths will watch the lights and fireworks, dance in the streets and generaly have a good time.

Say Billy Bragg live last night - somehow I missed him in the '80's - I am now officially a fan - a proper socialist performer who feels he is more like Max Wall than any other role model.

The venue was amazing too - the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth - built in 1903 and I believe the last remaining permanent circus building in the country - with a water feature for Busby Berkely style performances - the water was covered last night